# How is trump still a viable candidate for president? Really, how? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [May 12, 2023, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949 "2023-05-12T14:28:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/224 "2023-06-03T12:52:01Z")
As I said, going **hard** at him for the kill, takes guts not in evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/225 "2023-06-03T12:53:39Z")
Trump will be a viable candidate for President as long as he maintains his supply of starry-eyed admirers. I made the mistake yesterday of reading a Twitter post about one of his appearances. From the comments, you’d think he was some kind of rock star. “Oooh, and he’s so _tall_”. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/226 "2023-06-03T13:04:40Z")
Who knew shit could stack so high? ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/227 "2023-06-03T21:47:52Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > As I said, going **hard** at him for the kill, takes guts not in evidence. DeSantis, Christie and their ilk know deep in their dark politician souls that Trump goes too far and, as much as they want that superpower, they just can’t bring themselves to follow suit. On the one hand, that’s good for American politics. Imagine how ugly life would be having multiple Trumps shouting for attention every day. On the other hand, it means that he will roll all over every one of them because the GOP base wants blood sport. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/228 "2023-06-03T23:07:34Z")
Perhaps I’ve just got my antenna tuned to a very different frequency, and am missing most of the noise, but I find Trump strangely silent for the current stage of the campaign if he is to mount a serious one. I don’t know whether he’s simply holding his fire until it matters more, he assumes (rightly or wrongly) that he’s already got it sewed up, or he’s actually more mentally and physically enfeebled by [whatever] than we’ve been led to believe. Which [whatever] might include legal problems, but I place very little stock in that personally. That’s all much too little years to late IMO. His inner circle knows how well his fund raising, grifting, and feeler-feeling is going. To the degree he really was Putin’s puppy from 2015-2020 his old boss may not have bandwidth for much support this time. He certainly thinks of himself as the incumbent R nominee, the heir apparent if you will. But does his team think that or is he only seen as invincible until he steps into the ring at which point he might have a glass jaw? Such that their goal will be to keep him out of center stage until rather late when (in their hoped-for choreography) he’ll waltz in and be anointed by the ginormous groundswell of his fervent supporters. Who they are secretly afraid have lost interest and won’t come when called. At least not in large number? I know that I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/229 "2023-06-03T23:31:03Z")
It seems to me that what worked for him last time (a large field of candidates preventing anyone from being a serious challenger) is working now. As they have for the last eight years, I imagine his trainers and handlers are exhorting him to remain as silent as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/230 "2023-06-03T23:44:26Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Who knew shit could stack so high? I did. It’s a Teddy Thing. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/231 "2023-06-03T23:46:47Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Perhaps I’ve just got my antenna tuned to a very different frequency, and am missing most of the noise, but I find Trump strangely silent for the current stage of the campaign if he is to mount a serious one. This was [in the news two days ago](https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/01/politics/trump-desantis-dueling-events/index.html): > [@](#): > > As Trump held back-to-back campaign events in Iowa on Thursday, buses and billboards from the DeSantis-aligned super political action committee Never Back Down were in the parking lot at at least two of his events. At one Trump event a member of the super PAC was handing out fliers to attendees criticizing Trump for suggesting the six-week abortion ban DeSantis signed into law in Florida was “too harsh.” It’s true that he has been going a few weeks between campaign appearances. Maybe he’s deliberately sitting on his lead. But I think it’s just early. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/232 "2023-06-03T23:47:30Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > As they have for the last eight years, I imagine his trainers and handlers are exhorting him to remain as silent as possible. As it turns out–and those of us who have known about Tan the Conman damn near our whole lives have also known–it’s not possible for him to be silent. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/233 "2023-06-03T23:49:19Z")
All of these people he has supposedly “turned on” will recant when Trump wins the nomination and they will throw their full support behind him. There will be no blowback of any substance, it’s ridiculous to think so. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/234 "2023-06-03T23:55:48Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > It seems to me that what worked for him last time (a large field of candidates preventing anyone from being a serious challenger) is working now. For darn sure the worst dynamic for an opposition in any non-transferable voting system is one strongman vs a horde of midgets. This is true for e.g. a dictator with a big party apparatus behind them vs a bunch of minor malcontent parties each led by a bigwig wannabe. It’s also true in a standard US party nominating field, be that R or D. But … The R party’s primary procedures are especially designed to establish a front runner early. Which has the side effect of crippling _all_ the minor contenders, both the no hopers and the plausibles. It does _not_ lead to the no-hopers being eliminated early and leaving the two front-runners to battle it out down the home stretch for the prize. It leads to everyone other than the early leader being crippled and a unanimous coronation very, very early in the game. There is tremendous designed-in first-mover advantage in the R primary system. Which the party leadership, to the degree they aren’t actually Trump toadies, must be ruefully regretting. And perhaps are now plotting how to subvert. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2023, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/235 "2023-06-03T23:56:24Z")
> [@Chingon](#): > > All of these people he has supposedly “turned on” will recant when Trump wins the nomination and they will throw their full support behind him. There will be no blowback of any substance See also: Graham, Lindsay ; Cruz, Ted ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/236 "2023-06-04T00:22:36Z")
More evidence that viable nativist candidate Donald Trump is actively trying to cement in his lead: [https://thehill.com/latino/4032548-why-trumps-threats-to-birthright-citizenship-spark-fear/](https://thehill.com/latino/4032548-why-trumps-threats-to-birthright-citizenship-spark-fear/) > [@](#): > > His announcement that he would issue such an order on the first day of his second term came ahead of campaign stops in Iowa, where he shot barbs at his strongest opponent for the Republican nomination, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/237 "2023-06-04T00:53:12Z")
Wow. I didn’t have “serious presidential candidate to try to revoke my citizenship” on my bingo card. I imagine this is more xenophobic dog-whistling than serious policy, and I’m pretty sure the Constitution still trumps Trump’s executive orders, but the rhetoric is pretty frightening. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/238 "2023-06-04T00:55:31Z")
I wouldn’t count on the supreme court ruling against him. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/239 "2023-06-04T06:05:43Z")
[Gunnery Sergeant Hartman](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093058/quotes?item=qt0475790) was amazed they stacked it up to 5’9”. Regarding Pence and Christie being involved in the race despite not having any real chance of winning, I’m hoping that they can induce a “death by 10,000 cuts” to his campaign and candidacy. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/240 "2023-06-04T16:59:20Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > > > Who knew shit could stack so high? > > I did. It’s a Teddy Thing. LOL. Our Luc would poop against a tree, and if the bark was rough enough, it’d stick. About a foot up the trunk. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2023, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/241 "2023-06-05T04:23:36Z")
Dachshunds. Hard to figure out as they are long. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/242 "2023-06-30T19:19:31Z")
I will say that I think Christie really does hate him and wouldn’t come back. The rest, though…. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2023, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949/243 "2023-07-01T01:36:38Z")
Yesterday Biden made a statement that I think, regardless of whether you agree with the President, goes a way to answering the thread title question: > [@](#): > > The court has effectively ended affirmative action in college admissions, and I strongly, strongly disagree with the court’s decision. He had yesterday one of the few good opportunities that might come along to do something about the [very stable](https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2024/president/us/general-election-trump-vs-biden-7383.html#polls), week after week, month after month, polling showing him narrowly losing to Trump. Like most Americans, I’m against considering race in admissions or hiring decisions, but I give Joe Biden credit for political bravery. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-trump-still-a-viable-candidate-for-president-really-how/983949.md?page=13)